Kaapo Kahkonen News

Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.

Kahkonen has become the clear second-choice in San Jose, slated to start for only the second time in the teams' last seven games. Without a win (0-4-0) and a ghastly 4.30 GAA and .876 SV%, Kahkonen's outlook is not promising as the San Jose Sharks, playing the back end of a back-to-back, visit the Western-Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights. The last-place Sharks are currently on a two-game winning streak but, even so, are ginormous +426 road underdogs against the Golden Knights.

Kahkonen missed practice Friday due to an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision Saturday vs. Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old is coming off a horrific fourth-straight loss Thursday, where he was pulled after allowing six goals on 19 shots (.684 SV%). He has struggled this season with his 0-4-0 record, .876 SV%, and 4.30 GAA in five games played in 2023-24 and will likely have to be replaced by a goaltender on the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) if he is unable to go.

Kahkonen stopped 37 of 40 shots against (.925 SV%) in his previous start vs. Carolina but picked up his third-straight loss of the season and will take the crease again Thursday vs. Vancouver. The 27-year-old has been decent despite no offensive help with his 0-3-0 record, .907 SV%, and 3.16 GAA. He will try to get San Jose into the win column for the first time this season (0-8-1) as they take on Vancouver, who is third in the NHL in goals per game (4.0).

Kahkonen will man the crease on Friday and attempt to stop the bleeding on a dreadful start to the 2023-24 campaign for the Sharks. Last night, with Mackenzie Blackwood in the net, the Sharks were blown out 6-0 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blackwood has seen action more consistently to start the season for the Sharks, but their 0-6-1 record indicates they don't have much chance regardless of who is in between the pipes. The Sharks are averaging an embarrassing league-worst 1.14 goals scored per game and as a result, are +357 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes.

After taking a backseat to Mackenzie Blackwood for the last two games and, despite him saving saving 87 of 94 shots, watching his Sharks go winless (0-1-1), Kahkonen will get the start on Thursday night against the Boston Bruins. In his only game this season, Kahkonen allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks are +236 home underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has yet to lose a game (2-0-0).

Kahkonen struggled in 2022-23 as he was 9-20-7 with a 3.85 GAA and a .883 SV% but will draw the opening night start for San Jose as they host Vegas on Thursday. The 27-year-old is entering his fifth NHL season and will hope to help the Sharks finish outside the bottom three after they were 29th in the NHL in goals against last season (315). He takes on the Vegas Golden Knights, who are 1-0-0 after a 4-1 win over Seattle on opening night that saw them put 28 shots on goal.

Kahkonen allowed four goals on 19 shots (.789 SV%) for his 12th loss in 13 games as he was handed the loss by the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday. The 26-year-old has had a historically bad season in 2022-23, with his 9-19-7 record, 3.90 GAA and .879 SV%. He takes on the Calgary Flames, who have lost three of their last four games but are second in the NHL in shots per game (35.8).

Kahkonen allowed four goals on 42 shots (.905 SV%) for his 11th loss in 12 games as he was handed the overtime defeat by the Colorado Avalanche last game. The 26-year-old has been horrendous this season, with his 9-18-7 record, 3.83 GAA and .881 SV%. He takes on the Colorado Avalanche, who have won five of their last six games after a 4-3 overtime win over San Jose on Tuesday.

Kahkonen allowed two goals on 31 shots (.935 SV%) to snap a 10-game losing streak as he beat the Arizona Coyotes in his previous start. The 26-year-old has had a horrendous 2022-23 season, with his 9-18-6 record, 3.83 GAA and .880 SV%. He will take on the Colorado Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games and are seventh in the NHL in shots per game (33.3).

Kahkonen allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) for his ninth-straight loss as he was defeated by the New York Islanders in his previous start. The 26-year-old has had a horrendous 2022-23, with his 8-17-6 record, 3.89 GAA and .879 SV%. He takes on the Calgary Flames, who have lost three of their last four games but are second in the NHL in shots per game.

Kahkonen allowed four goals on 30 shots (.869 SV%) for his seventh-straight loss as he was taken down by the St. Louis Blues in his last start. The 26-year-old has had a nightmarish season, with his historically bad .879 SV%, 3.82 GAA and 8-16-5 record. He takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have lost four straight after a 5-2 loss to St. Louis last game.

Kahkonen allowed five goals on 24 shots (.792 SV%) for his sixth-straight loss as he was rocked by Colorado in his previous start. The 26-year-old has been horrific in 2022-23, with his 8-15-5 record, 3.81 GAA and .879 SV%. He will face the downfalling St. Louis Blues, who have lost eight of their last nine games after a 6-2 loss to Arizona last game.

Kahkonen allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in his worst start of the season as he was rocked by Washington in his previous start for his fifth-straight loss. The 26-year-old Sharks' backup has struggled all season, as shown by his 8-14-5 record, 3.68 GAA and .882 SV%. He takes on the Colorado Avalanche, who have lost three straight after a 3-2 overtime loss to Seattle last game and are eight in the NHL in shots per game (33.1).